Quiz Time!

But don’t worry: I give an A for effort. Okay, actually there will be no grades because this is more about getting your opinion. This blog will be a year old in a month, and our semester is about to come to an end. As such, I think it’s about time to see where we are with the blog. If you are willing to help us out, please answer these questions in the comment section. That way we can figure out how to make the most of our blog over the winter break.

1) What do you consider yourself as far as religion is concerned?

2) How do you define religion? How do you define spirituality?

3) How do you define God or gods?

4) In your opinion, what is the importance of the Bible? The Quran? The Bhagavad Gita? Any other religious texts?

6) What do you want to know about the above? What are your concerns about the above?

7) What is the importance of Philosophy? History? Science?

8) What do you want to know about Philosophy, History, and Science?

9) Are you a feminist? Why or why not?

10) What do you want to know about feminism?

11) What would you like to know about us as feminists?

12) If you are willing to tell us, what is your gender (not sex, but gender) and sexuality? How do they affect your lives?

13) What do you think affects a person’s sex or gender?

14) What would you like to know about gender and sexuality?

15) What are your hobbies? What do you believe to be the importance of hobbies?

16) What would you like to know about our hobbies?

For those of you who remember my Bible project, I will be getting back into it. My semester was far busier than I expected, so I had to put reading for pleasure aside. As such, I haven’t read either the Bible or Mere Christianity in a while. However, I’ll try to get Mere Christianity finished before the winter semester begins. The Bible will probably need to be put aside during the second semester, so I doubt I’ll finish that before next fall.

2) Religion is the (hopefully) divinely-incepted but man-made structure to spirituality. Essentially it provides a safe place to encounter God. Spirituality is the relationship with God.

3) Step back for a minute from all the personality traits we usually ascribe to God, and I would define God as The Source(tm) for EVERYTHING good.

4) The Bible, as a divinely inspired (as opposed to divinely dictated) holy book is great for its intended purpose – namely spiritual devotion and telling the story of humanity from the beginning to the founding of Christianity and then for a bit after. The story involves quite a bit of non-literal imagery, although the specifics on what is literal and what is not literal are up for debate. Please note that it is not a science or a history textbook and is not terribly useful as such. One would hope for similar perspective on other religious texts but I’m not qualified to opine on any of them.

5) I understand that there are differences among all these, but my main concerns are: a) I would encourage everyone to seek the Truth(tm) with an open mind, wherever that takes them, b) that we all simultaneously be who we are and live and let live (my husband is agnostic and we never fight about religion so it can be done), and c) it’s not fair to judge ANY group by its worst representatives.

6) Whatever you want to tell me I guess.

7) Yes.

8) Yes.

9) Yes. I understand that the term “equalist” is gaining traction in some circles, but the whole idea of elevating women to a place of equality with men does require a disproportionate focus on women and women’s issues. Thus – “feminist.”

10) and 11) Not much, really. I have my own points of disagreement with the majority of feminists which a majority of them would probably kick me out of the club for, but no matter.

12) Straight female. It makes it easier for me than most to be a “good Catholic” now that I’m married and actually allowed to have sex (yippee!), but I’m not so good on living the birth control teaching. I don’t know how I would fare if I fell into a different category, but I do plan on reading Eve Tushnet’s “Gay and Catholic” book to help broaden my mind.

13) Biology. Not just genitalia biology, but hormones and neurotransmitters as well.

14) A lot, really. More than I could list here, but (trying to be brief) generally it worries me that people seem to feel like they are shoved into boxes as far as roles they take on or lifestyle choices they make. Granted, there are more boxes nowadays, but maybe the issues is that either: a) we have (or should have) evolved past the need for boxes; or b) we had a fine number of boxes before but we need to see them more broadly.

15) Not many right now – I have small children lol. But I do enjoy gaming (mainly MMORPG’s like World of Warcraft), writing, crochet, knitting badly, hiking, and working out.

Religion is the organised following of a god or gods, or a spiritual/supernatural sete of ideas, usually inspired by some sort of ancient text

3) How do you define God or gods?

Ideally, god is defined as a supernatural being, generally a creator or other all-powerful being who believes we have some kind of obligation/relationship with them.

Realistically I’d define god as the thing which gets shoved in the gap to account for something that someone doesn’t fully understand.

4) In your opinion, what is the importance of the Bible? The Quran? The Bhagavad Gita? Any other religious texts?

They have some historical importance, and obvious cultural relvance, but have litle in terms of truth, or morality. Though I’d have to confess to not having read much religious text outside of the bible.

Atheism: The lack of a belief in god or gods
Secularism: Life without god or gods
Secular Humanism: Belief in the importance of humans, but without reference to anything supernatural
Agnostism: Doubt about whether we can reasonably know whether or not a god exists.
Anti-theism: Opposition to the notion that there is a god.

6) What do you want to know about the above? What are your concerns about the above?

I’d like to know the things I don’t know about them, but since I don’t know those things, it’s tricky to describe them 🙂

7) What is the importance of Philosophy? History? Science?

Philosophy: thinking about thinking – looking at the way that we decide things, how we think about them, how we logically reason and come to conclusions.

History: vital to stop us repeating the mistakes of the past. Generally fascinating

Science: How we discover things about the world in as reliable way as possible.

8) What do you want to know about Philosophy, History, and Science?

Philosophy: more basics, really
History: There’s so much of it!
Science: not sure really – so much of it too!

9) Are you a feminist? Why or why not?

Yes – in the sense that all people, regardless of gender, should be treated equally with the same amount of respect and dignity. Because our differences aren’t as big as people imagine, and that you can’t always tell someone’s gender from their outside appearance

10) What do you want to know about feminism?

More about what it actually means – there seems to be a lot of mis-conceptions

11) What would you like to know about us as feminists?

How we can live lives and influence for greater equality

12) If you are willing to tell us, what is your gender (not sex, but gender) and sexuality? How do they affect your lives?

I’m female (but only on the inside) and probably bisexual (but in a hetrosexual relationship). The effect on my life is immense – I’ve spent many years with an inner conflict which has shaped my personality and the way in which I relate to others, especially those of the opposite sex, but also to a large extent those of the same sex as me. I’ve never felt that I fitted in. I’m only now coming to terms with my gender in a positive way, and embracing it as much as my personal situation allows.

13) What do you think affects a person’s sex or gender?

Sex is generally determined from chromosomes. Gender is obviously influenced by that (otherwise why would *most* people’s gender match their sex), but it appears to not be exclusively – many biological influences. I don’t necessarily think that environment/upbringing have an influence on one’s actual gender, aside from in a negative way – ie reinforcing cis-genderedness when that isn’t then case

14) What would you like to know about gender and sexuality?

Other people’s experiences and feelings on it all – get lots of reference points so I can work out more about why I am the way I am.

15) What are your hobbies? What do you believe to be the importance of hobbies?

Sewing most currently, Lolita fashion, computer gaming, bloggng, arguing online ;), cycling, learning, geeky computery things, being a parent (though that’s more a full time job, which I do with my other full time job) – I guess the hobby part of that is doing hobby type things with my children.

16) What would you like to know about our hobbies?

Just more about what you do, that’s interesting! Always good to get ideas which might be fun to do!

For me, religion is the formal teachings, practice and traditions of a community of people who share similar beliefs. Spirituality is about how people engage with the metaphysical.

3) How do you define God or gods?

I would define gods as objects of worship and ‘God’ (with a capital G) as the object of worship of a monotheistic community. In terms of my own personal understanding (as opposed to general terminology), I understand God to be a mystery far beyond human understanding, but also the creator and sustainer of the universe and the source of highest love. I also understand God as One who seeks to communicate with us and invite us to be part of what s/he is doing in the world.

4) In your opinion, what is the importance of the Bible? The Quran? The Bhagavad Gita? Any other religious texts?

Such ‘sacred’ texts are important sources of inspiration and guidance to religious communities. As such, they are also important resources for helping to understand such communities.

I understand atheism is the absence of a belief in God (or gods) and agnosticism as not knowing what you believe. I understand secular humanism to be a philosophy of life that values human beings, but does not recognise the presence of God or gods. Anti-theism is not a term I’ve come across, but I assume it to be a Dawkins type antipathy to religions and theism that seeks to erradicate them.

6) What do you want to know about the above? What are your concerns about the above?

My main concern has to do with tolerance. I’m not happy about individuals or groups who are convinced that they have the One True Answer to life, the universe and everything and anyone who doesn’t accept this should be ridiculed/oppressed/silenced/removed/sent to Hell (or equivalent).

7) What is the importance of Philosophy? History? Science?

Philosophy is about how we understand life. History is about where we’ve been. Science is about how the universe and its inhabitants work. All are important in our understanding of each other and in how we choose to live life in the here and now.

8) What do you want to know about Philosophy, History, and Science?

Whatever I can find out.

9) Are you a feminist? Why or why not?

Yes. I believe the full humanity of both men and women should be respected and affirmed and that neither men nor women should be given preferential treatment or forced into accepting unhelpful and/or stereotypical understandings of who they are.

10) What do you want to know about feminism?

11) What would you like to know about us as feminists?

Whatever you want to tell us.

12) If you are willing to tell us, what is your gender (not sex, but gender) and sexuality? How do they affect your lives?

I am straight. I am female. I don’t really understand what gender is, so I can’t answer that. FWIW, I identify as a woman because that is my sex. I am most comfortable in casual clothes that might largely be seen as unisex. I don’t wear make up. I hate shopping. I’m not interested in styling my hair and, when I was young, I was extremely envious of my brother because he had a train set. I also did better at physics than any of the boys in my year at school. However, I’m not ‘macho’ or aggressive in any sense, I shun leadership and I have a very strong caring instinct which had a major effect on my career choices. So who knows?

13) What do you think affects a person’s sex or gender?

I think sex is determined by genetics. I think sexuality is largely biologically determined, but that it is about more than genes. I suspect it has partly to do with the level of hormones and other metabolites in the womb.

I have no idea about gender because I don’t know what it is. Lots of the ‘information’ out there seems to suggest that gender identity and expression is largely about the degree to which a person identifies with the male/female roles generally accepted by society. Since I believe that people are unique individuals, I don’t believe that who they are should be defined by society anyway. Lots of men and boys don’t fit the the stereotypical ‘masculine’ image. Lots of women don’t fit the stereotypical ‘feminine’ image. So what the heck is gender? To me, it means nothing. Women are women because they have the relevant genitalia and men are men because they have the relevant genitalia. So if someone with female genitalia were to tell me that they identify as a boy or man, I wouldn’t really understand what they meant by that. I’d be quite happy to refer to them as ‘he’ if that was what they wanted, but I wouldn’t really ‘get’ what it was all about. Similarly, I’m confused by your identity as gender queer. As I see it, there’s a sense in which we are all gender queer, but perhaps that’s because I don’t yet fully understand what folks like you are trying to say?

14) What would you like to know about gender and sexuality?

I am interested in people. I’m especially interested in what people say about themselves because that feels real to me. Whilst more general information about a topic can provide a starting point for understanding, it only goes so far in helping me to understand a particular individual, especially if their experience of life is different to mine. This is why (going back to your last post) I think it’s important for everyone to offer something of their experience. They should never be unduly pressured to speak up about personal matters. But for me to truly value people for who they are, I need to get to know and understand them. So, for me, the value of a blog like this is as much in the discussion (and hence community) it generates as in the ideas/information expressed in the opening post.

15) What are your hobbies? What do you believe to be the importance of hobbies?

Reading. Finding out – especially stuff relating to the biological sciences, psychology, the natural world and theology. Being out in the countryside.

1) What do you consider yourself as far as religion is concerned?
Not religious. Skeptical atheist and humanist.

2) How do you define religion? How do you define spirituality?
A religion is a set of beliefs and practices, usually including at least some myth and and some (often bad) ideas about morality.
Spirituality is generic, disorganized belief in the supernatural.

3) How do you define God or gods?
A god is a supernatural being who has a role in the workings of nature. Or in some cases, a superhero that people believe/believed was real.
“God” (capitalized) is the use of the word “god” as a name or a title (whether the god in question has a proper name or not), which is mostly only done in the context of monotheism.

4) In your opinion, what is the importance of the Bible? The Quran? The Bhagavad Gita? Any other religious texts?
For better or worse, they have had a large effect on the cultures of the regions where their associated religions are widely believed.
The Bible, at least, is also important as literature, though its importance is often overrated.

5) What is Atheism? Secularism? Secular Humanism? Agnosticism? Anti-theism?
Atheism – a lack of belief in gods
Secularism – the idea that religion shouldn’t influence things outside of itself, especially government and education
Secular humanism – a non-religious moral philosophy based on human well-being
Agnosticism – originally, the belief that it is impossible to know whether or not gods exist (it seems to me that this definition does assume that no god who interacts with the universe exists); but more often, just the stance that someone doesn’t know where or not gods exist
Anti-theism – not a common word; is it being certain that there are no gods?

6) What do you want to know about the above? What are your concerns about the above?
I want to know how the “atheism only means strong atheism and agnosticism means weak atheism” misconception got started.

7) What is the importance of Philosophy? History? Science?
Philosophy is the field that actually does what some people claim religion does; figure out things that aren’t based on hard facts. It should never be placed above more certain fields of knowledge like history, science, and math, though.
History is reasonably important as a source of examples to learn from; bad examples, mostly. Anyone who wants to make the future more like the past is nuts.
Science is what humans do. Gathering facts and coming to conclusions based on them; science is what we actually know about reality.

8) What do you want to know about Philosophy, History, and Science?
Why are there still philosophers wasting their time thinking non-scientifically about questions that should clearly have objective fact-based answers?

9) Are you a feminist? Why or why not?
Yes. Because I’m a decent human being and therefore support equality for all people regardless of gender or sex, and I’m not so ignorant as to pretend that women don’t still have it worse off than men.

10) What do you want to know about feminism?
Where did it’s undeserved bad reputation come from?

11) What would you like to know about us as feminists?
What issues are most important to you?

12) If you are willing to tell us, what is your gender (not sex, but gender) and sexuality? How do they affect your lives?
I don’t have an extremely strong gender identity, but I guess it’s closer to matching my sex (male) than not. I’ve called myself straight recently but I wouldn’t exclude feminine non-binary people from those I might be attracted to so there’s probably a more accurate word.
I don’t think it’s affected my life hugely, but I’m sure I’ve benefited from straight male privilege, and I have (mostly when I was much younger) said or done things I might otherwise not to intentionally stay consistent with an image that I don’t think I should care so much about.

13) What do you think affects a person’s sex or gender?
Sex is biological. It’s commonly determined by chromosomes, but it’s a huge mistake (and offensive) to insist on it being defined by them; overall the defining trait of physical sex would be the sex organs.
Gender is more complicated, but I think that a person’s gender identity is determined by their brain, while their gender expression is determined by a combination of their identity, their body, and their culture’s gender roles; and that culture that has a bad habit of being obsessed with making gender distinctions more obvious and absolute than they really are.

14) What would you like to know about gender and sexuality?
Does the high level of categorization and distinction do more good or bad for people who fall into smaller categories?

15) What are your hobbies? What do you believe to be the importance of hobbies?
Until I actually get something published my writing might be still a hobby, in which case it’s my main one.
I read, play video games,and have a collection that might not count as a current hobby since it hasn’t been added to recently.

16) What would you like to know about our hobbies?
I don’t think I know enough about them to have a question.

An agnostic technically speaking, but for all practical purposes I conduct myself as an atheist. I try and approach life within a secular framework.

2) How do you define religion? How do you define spirituality?

Religion is a framework that seeks to provide answers to questions about how the world works and how to live in it, and to varying degrees imposes that framework on adherents and potential adherents, enforcing adherence usually with a system of threats or rewards that are based in the supernatural.

Spirituality is one way to describe how people experience certain deep emotional states that almost anyone can experience, whether it’s described as spiritual, numinous, or transcendent. In psychological terms it may be described as mindfulness. Because many religious practices include forms of reflective prayer, meditation, fasting, sensory manipulation or drug use, each a method to help bring on these deep emotional states, spirituality and religion are often conflated, or, through adopting the practices while not adhering to other beliefs/dogmas of a religion, spirituality can be considered “religion lite.”

3) How do you define God or gods?

Generally speaking a being(s) that is regarded as more powerful than and/or possessing more knowledge than humanity while also controlling or intervening to varying degrees in human affairs.

4) In your opinion, what is the importance of the Bible? The Quran? The Bhagavad Gita? Any other religious texts?

Religious texts are valuable cultural, historical, anthropological and literary collections that should be regarded with the same critical lens and respect as Aesop’s Fables, Plutarch and Shakespeare.

Atheism is simply the lack of belief in/the possibility of a god or gods. Agnosticism allows for the possibility of such a being, but can find no evidence to support current claims. Neither atheism or agnosticism prescribe a framework that seeks to provide answers to questions about how the world works and how to live in it. Secularism and secular humanism are systems are in a limited way, similar to religions, and do prescribe such a framework, but one that relies on testable science, evidence and reason to explain how the world works and how to live in it. Neither make supernatural claims. Anti-theism is a way of thinking that asserts forms of theism and by extension religions are destructive, corrupting or limiting forces on humanity.

6) What do you want to know about the above? What are your concerns about the above?

I would be interested in discussing the “spiritual” and how it fits into the framework of secularists and secular humanists.

7) What is the importance of Philosophy? History? Science?

Philosophy history and science are the cornerstones upon which secular humanism establishes itself. They are also the primary battlegrounds in the war of ideas between theists and atheists.

8) What do you want to know about Philosophy, History, and Science?

I’d like to know more about the philosophy behind secular humanism.

9) Are you a feminist? Why or why not?

Yes, I consider myself a feminist because I believe that a person should not be defined or limited by their gender.

10) What do you want to know about feminism?

What is the role men should play in feminism as allies?

11) What would you like to know about us as feminists?

Your views on the role men can play as feminists.

12) If you are willing to tell us, what is your gender (not sex, but gender) and sexuality? How do they affect your lives?

I am a straight male. I am the beneficiary of thousands of years of a patriarchy, which, as a feminist, I try to be conscious of and not try and assert or allow to define me.

13) What do you think affects a person’s sex or gender?

I believe that primarily it is genetics, but am open to additional evidence/information.

14) What would you like to know about gender and sexuality?

The role religion plays in maintaining disparity in gender and sexuality.

15) What are your hobbies? What do you believe to be the importance of hobbies?

Blogging, reading, trivia.

16) What would you like to know about our hobbies?

How do your hobbies reflect your views on these subjects (or influence them)?

1) What do you consider yourself as far as religion is concerned? Agnostic

2) How do you define religion? How do you define spirituality? Religion is either a dogma or a comfort (and you can choose which of those you make it) religion belongs to and is dictated by a group. Spirituality is less concerned with knowing about god/gods and more concerned with being closer to god/gods on the personal level as an individual. Spirituality belongs to and is dictated by the individual who holds onto it.

3) How do you define God or gods? For me as an agnostic I’d say if there is a god it is in the panentheistic sense of the word.

4) In your opinion, what is the importance of the Bible? The Quran? The Bhagavad Gita? Any other religious texts?

5) What is Atheism? Non-belief. Secularism? Not making comments or decisions based specifically on religion, Secular Humanism? I think it’s doing good deeds not because religion prompts you to, but just because it is right to do so. Agnosticism? Is keeping an open mind either way but admiting to not knowing eitherway. Anti-theism? When an atheist goes so far as to try and impose their athiesm on others and wrongly confuses this for secularism.

6) What do you want to know about the above? What are your concerns about the above? I don’t really have any concerns, good people will be good people.

7) What is the importance of Philosophy? History? Science? Without going into a long essay for a reply I will simply say I believe they are all equally important to humanity. Though I sometimes wish after learning from history more people would look forward instead of dwelling on the past.

8) What do you want to know about Philosophy, History, and Science? At this point in time I consider myself fortunate that if ever I have a question about either of these things arise I can simply google for an answer. I have had lots of questions, and will no doubt have plenty more, but at this current point in time I have none.

9) Are you a feminist? Why or why not? Yes. I believe in equality for all genders.

10) What do you want to know about feminism? I’d like to know why we choose to focus on the issues we do as a group, I guess I feel let down that the loudest cries for equality are more often than not in the least important aspects of life. For example: I don’t think the word bitch needs to be banned when we still haven’t challenged and defeated the backward ideas in some countries and cultures that women should not be allowed to drive.

11) What would you like to know about us as feminists?
What issues are the most important to you?

12) If you are willing to tell us, what is your gender (not sex, but gender) and sexuality? How do they affect your lives? My gender is mostly female, the same as my sex(which I’m ok with), but I do feel male sometimes. I am pansexual. This doesn’t actually affect my life that much, on the outside I just appear to be a tomboy sort of girl and my current (and hopefully lasting) relationship is with a man.

13) What do you think affects a person’s sex or gender? That is up to them to personally speak for themselves. I would not want to misrepresent them by pretending how I feel is also true for them, because it won’t be. We are individuals.

14) What would you like to know about gender and sexuality? I don’t have many questions. I guess I am bigender, but because I am not trans in anyway I often would like to know what the ettiquette is for speaking to people who feel the need for surgical modification. I’d hate to accidentally offend them just by being curious.

15) What are your hobbies? What do you believe to be the importance of hobbies? I have too many hobbies. Here is the short list in no particular order; Writing, drawing, painting, photography, gaming, DIY, reading, motorcycle riding, hiking, and collecting. Hobbies are important, they are one of many integral parts of what makes us both unique and human.

16) What would you like to know about our hobbies?
If there is a hobby you don’t currently have but time and money were not an issue what hobby would you most like to take up?

2) religion is your relationship with others who share similar beliefs about God. Generally this is indicated by the church or other God oriented group you affiliate with. spirituality is your relationship with the supernatural and the less structured parts of the natural. A person can be either one, neither, or both.

3) God is a supernatural being beyond our comprehension. I believe He is aware of us and interacts with us to some degree.

4) Any religious text may provide useful insight into the God it claims to be from. Since none of those Gods can be proven, the texts need to be subjected to other analysis to gauge their reliability. So far it seems to me the Bible is the only one which seems not to have true internal discrepancies, conflict with other sources and archaeological evidence.

5) Atheism – The belief there are no gods. non-theism – no belief about gods. Theism – The belief there is at least one God. Anti-theism – those who are against the belief in gods (sometimes against the people who believe in gods). Secularism – the viewpoint that religion should not have any control in or by government, education, or other public parts of society. Secular Humanism – a religious worldview based on atheism, naturalism, evolution, and ethical relativism. Agnosticism – lack of knowledge (often related to knowledge about whether there are gods)

9) I’m not a feminist because I don’t think women are inherently inferior (or superior) to men.

13) A person’s (initial) biological sex is largely the result of their genes and how those genes result in the sexual characteristics. Gender identity is more varied, depending on upbringing, environment, experiences and just plain “the way the person is wired”.

14) Blogging, Music (particularly building instruments and electronic music), Designing survival kits, Computer games (Rock Band, Rock Smith, Skyrim). Hobbies can give you a creative outlet, and provide a respite from the boredom, stresses or disappointments of everyday life.

6) Why the term “atheism” is so popular with some people who do not appear to actually be atheists (people who believe there is no god). Perhaps the term agnostic does not please them, but why not use the accurate term nontheist? Even more interesting are the people who claim to be athiests because they are mad at God. In order to be mad at God, you have to believe He exists, making these people actually theists. Just antiists.

7) History is important to know what has happened, and hopefully to learn about the mistakes so that they are not repeated. Unfortunately, this is seldom the case. Science is important, because that is how we understand the natural world, and is the basis for technological advances. I don’t know enough about philosophy to comment on it.

8, 10, 11, 14, 16) I don’t know what I don’t know. Things come up and some interest me and other bore me and I turn away from them.

9) Actually, I may be somewhat a feminist, because I realize that although women should be as equal to men as is practical, often they are not. I agree that where this is the case, it should be addressed. This does not mean that if a woman wants to be a firefighter but cannot pass the (firefighter appropriate) test, that the standards should be relaxed for her. It does not mean that women should be made “more equal” than men or men should be forced to be “less equal”. It does not mean that I should be forced to pay for women’s contraception or abortions (unless I am involved with them, of course). It does not mean that women should be taught to despise men. It does not mean that men are scummy toads (although some are) and it does not mean the men should be discouraged from any natural behavior which does not cause actual damage to others. It does not mean that boys should be medicated or trained into passivity. In other words, I agree with the concept of feminism, but not with some of the goals and many of the practices.

12) Of course, my biological sex and gender identity (which match moderately well) and sexual preference (mildly straight) have influenced my choices of mate and how much effort I spent chasing sex. I’m sure that there are other aspects of my life which were influenced by these, but did not recognize them at the time or upon reflection. Some of these cases were probably perceived as “normal” based on my upbringing and societal norms at the time. Perhaps the most likely opportunity for this to have influenced me was in my profession, except that I was in one (computer software) and a particular company which went to great lengths to make sure there was no discrimination.

13) I did not state it explicitly, but gender identity is often based on a persons biological sex, but NOT always. For some people, the factors I did explicitly list have more impact.

1) Agnostic
2) Religion is made by man. Spirituality comes form an inner source.
3) God is what goes through the thickest of skulls.
4) All books made by man. They all have words of wisdom.
5) Atheism is just another theism — a theory. You can not prove or disprove god; Atheists are just stupid enough to try and stop the unstoppable — you can’t stop a belief; it is form of hope. Hoe to see loved ones again, a hope life is not meaningless, a hope that something lies beyond the misery of this world.
Agnostics can escape the theist label because I know, I don’t know. Humanism is is philosophy based on common good.
Anti-theism is hard-line atheism; therefore more insane.
Seculars try to avoid the topic of religion and focus on provable facts.
6) I have my opinions and my main concerns are groupism and power mongering.
7) Philosophy is like a theme, by which you live by.
History -learning from the past so not to repeat the same mistakes.
Science is knowledge and theory about the natural world
8)Everything but I doubt it will fit.
9)No, culture is a difficult thing to change. Feminists do not have a clear unified message, many say polar opposite things. Like I said, I don’t care for groupism or power mongering. You have to have understanding between genders and both have always needed each other. Few people are truly whole, they need someone to complete them and most seek the opposite gender. Camille Paglia and other women think like the average man and some men fit what many consider the woman’s role. People need to find their best fit, but just because dominant feminists want to make a new definition of woman, doesn’t mean all women want to make such a change. Read Goddesses in Everywoman by Jean Shinoda Bolen and pick the goddess of your choice.
10, 11) I listen to point of views
13, 14)There are biological reasons for sex, so anti-sex feminists are like atheists trying to stop what can’t be stopped. Deviations occur and have health higher risks. Safety is the concern.
15)Writing a novel
`5) If your topic looks interesting I will read it. You probable wrote me off as a troll rather than just realizing I have thoughts interests in certain topics. You control our comments, do what you want.

I am a Christian. More specifically, I am about to be ordained an Anglican priest.

2) How do you define religion? How do you define spirituality?

Religion: a set of beliefs shared by a community of people, to do with questions of ultimate concern, and the devotional and ritual practices, formal teachings and institutions of that community

Spirituality: the systems of value and meaning constructed by people (as individuals or groups) and how those systems shape the way of life, commitments and ethics of those people.

3) How do you define God or gods?

As an object of worship. *My* God I understand as the creator and sustainer of all that is, who seeks loving relationship with that creation.

4) In your opinion, what is the importance of the Bible? The Quran? The Bhagavad Gita? Any other religious texts?

The Bible is the record of people in my tradition, my community of faith (acknowledging here the historical link with Judaism) of their apprehension of God. I believe it to be inspired such that it continues to be valuable in shaping our understanding of and response to God today. Other sacred texts are similarly the records of other traditions; I respect them but do not look to them for inspiration in the same way.

Atheism is the lack of belief in a God. Secularism – there are two kinds. One seeks to exclude religion from public life in any form, the other seeks to exclude privileging religion in public life in any form. Secular humanism is a school of thought in which human interests and well being are prioritised, without reference to religious paradigms. Agnosticism is an intellectual stance of uncertainty with regard to religious claims. Anti-theism is opposition to religion.

6) What do you want to know about the above? What are your concerns about the above?

While I value and appreciate diversity and open dialogue across differences, I am concerned about attitudes which seek to exclude or demonise those who are different (anti-theism, what I might call aggressive secularism).

7) What is the importance of Philosophy? History? Science?

I have difficulty answering this. Ignorance is a great weakness; knowledge of history, the natural world, rationality, give us the raw material for constructing a well-functioning society.

8) What do you want to know about Philosophy, History, and Science?

I’m probably most ignorant of formal philosophy. Some material investigating the basics would be most welcome.

9) Are you a feminist? Why or why not?

Yes. I believe the value, relative power and roles of a person should not be determined by sex or gender.

10) What do you want to know about feminism?

I’d really like to know about feminist thinkers in faiths other than my own. Secular feminism and Christian feminism are familiar, but what about Muslim, Hindu, Sikh feminisms?

11) What would you like to know about us as feminists?

12) If you are willing to tell us, what is your gender (not sex, but gender) and sexuality? How do they affect your lives?

I’m a woman, and I guess I’m bisexual in orientation but I have chosen to only have one sexual partner, my husband. Trying to be a woman, a mother, and a minister of religion in patriarchal society means steady chipping away at the stained-glass ceiling. I try to focus on the successes rather than the frustrations (of which there are many).

13) What do you think affects a person’s sex or gender?

Biology, mostly. I understand that for most people, both of these are fixed early in development, before birth.

14) What would you like to know about gender and sexuality?

15) What are your hobbies? What do you believe to be the importance of hobbies?

I sing in a choir, and I write poetry and fiction. I think hobbies are important for building communities of common interest, for creative expression and for an outlet other than one’s paid work, which may or may not be sufficient or fulfilling.

It will take awhile to get back to you. I copied your quiz/laundry list will go over it and get back to you. I just finished all my CEU’s to renew my Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor License – so I’m quizzed out right now!

2) I’m not sure if this is about how I define them for myself, or what I think those words mean to the world. I think “religion” in particular has a lot of historical associations which are now anachronistic, but which most modern religions have not been able to shake off. For me personally, religion is about explaining the metaphysical, the nature of reality, particularly non-materialistic reality. Spirituality is just that other facet of metaphysics, and the personal quest for understanding of it. It’s possible these things are all misguided, if there is in fact nothing beyond the material.

3) I don’t think God can be defined. It is beyond our capacity to imagine or describe. You might also say God is just the universe itself, the substrate in which the material world is found. I think the personified ideas of God in most religious texts are psychological crutches.

4) Major religious texts are some of the best preserved ancient texts we have, which provide clear descriptions of the laws and customs of ancient cultures and also a fair amount of history. In the religious sense, though, such texts are good in that they provide a history of moral and spiritual thought and various sorts of metaphysics that we can consider. They were written by the best thinkers of their times, and should be regarded in a way similar to the writings of Plato or Confucius.

5) I don’t really have anything to say about this.

6) Does “the above” mean 1-5, or just 5? I already know a lot about the ways of thought involved in (5), so I’m much more interested in learning about other approaches to metaphysics. But I do wonder why materialists think their metaphysics has a better foundation than religious metaphysics. The best argument for this that I can see is a sort of coherentist argument that points out the scientific inaccuracies of religions, but I think most religions’ metaphysics aren’t dependent on their scientific claims anyway, and that stuff can be thrown away (which, for example, the Catholic church mostly already did).

7) Science explains the workings of the material world. History is of social importance because it helps us understand how we got into the present situation – it explains the circumstantial world. Philosophy is about understanding the nature of the world and our role therein.

8) I want to know about the main ideas and insights of Continental philosophy, particularly Wittgenstein. Also, is Derrida actually full of crap or did he have anything useful to say? I’d also like to know more about the metaphysics of Eastern philosophy, particularly Chinese philosophy.

9) No. I don’t like to label myself.

10) Nothing in particular

11) Nothing in particular

12) Straight male. In one sense, this affects my life so deeply that it’s difficult to describe. How people view me and interact with me, and the person I’m spending the rest of my life with, are very influenced by these things. But in another sense, it doesn’t matter very much to me. I don’t think it’s an important part of my identity. I try to hold beliefs and opinions about the world that aren’t too influenced by my own particular situation (although this can be quite difficult).

13) This seems to be an open question of scientific research. I am pretty sure there have been twin studies demonstrating a genetic component. I also remember a study of siblings which showed that later siblings are more likely to be homosexual or something like that, which suggests environmental factors during embryonic development affect sexuality. As far as I know, biological sex is by definition genetic. I don’t remember studies about the origins of gender off-hand.

14) I think it’s a very interesting topic, but so emotionally/politically charged that I generally avoid it (most writing on it is highly spun/biased, and most discussion of it is pointless argument). I am pretty interested in the state of science on this question though. Having a clear picture of the genetic and developmental factors that influence gender and sexuality would have a big impact on our cultural understanding of these matters.

15) I collect coins, cook, do Chinese calligraphy, read (mostly philosophy these days). Those are probably the main ones. I think hobbies are important because they broaden one’s understanding of the world. Otherwise it’s easy to get too focused on the narrow world of one’s studies or career.

16) I’d be interested in hearing about how your hobbies opened your eyes to something you didn’t understand before, or why you think they add to your life (beyond providing an outlet for stress or a way to relax or something mundane like that).

‘I think the personified ideas of God in most religious texts are psychological crutches.’ That’s an interesting response. I’m wondering whether you feel the same way when people personify their cars or laptops or project human feelings onto their cats? Would you say that is about a psychological need for something to depend on or are there other things involved?

Yeah, I think it’s a similar phenomenon, although I’d say “a psychological need for something to depend on” is not the right characterization. I think it’s easiest for people to relate to people and to understand people, so we project human attributes onto other things that are important so that we can feel a stronger connection. But I think this projection is entirely psychological and for our own benefit. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong – if it helps people get closer to God or to treat animals decently or be happy, I don’t mind what methods they use. But for me personally, I want to perceive the truth about things as directly as possible, so I want to avoid clouding things with such accoutrements and baubles, to the extent that my limited brain is capable of doing so.

1) What doyou consider yourself as far as religion is concerned?Theist2) How doyou define religion? How do you define spirituality?Religion is atradition of worshipping God and to enjoy with Cosmic Society. Acquire the knowledgeon the properties of universe though it has no limit. 3) How doyou define God or gods?God is the ultimate truth whichis beyond the scope of human to understand. The said God has produced universe fromitself which is the only form of God we see it. We see only God in the formof universe and the natural entities. We do not know exactly how they perform. Wesee nothing of our self. We cannot even move within our self, though we say weare in our body.As you respect your Mother as awhole, respect everything as they are part of God. All the entities of theuniverse are Gods. 4) In your opinion, what is the importanceof the Bible? The Quran? The Bhagavad Gita? Any other religious texts?Bible: Simply “love others”should only be accepted from Bible.Quran: Nothing else should beaccepted from Quran, but to be honest to all human and all living thing.Geeta: Everything is a livingthing. Feel God everywhere. Your work and thoughts construct you. You cancontrol only the work you do. You have no control on the results. Hence do notexpect favorable results. We are here for acquiring and spreading knowledge andpleasure. The thing which is harmful for you, do not impose on others. You arehere to perform the social duties to step up the society. Enjoy through theduty (Dharma) as you have accepted it. 5) What is Atheism? Secularism? SecularHumanism? Agnosticism? Anti-theism?Atheism: To believe some thing is living and some thing is non-living isAtheism. To negate ritual and traditions of theist is also Atheism.Atheism is contradictorythereby it is false. Because by accumulating any number of non-living entitiesa living thing cannot be produced or generated. Further the rituals are forpleasure and rhythm in the life give more pleasure. There are so many falserituals adopted by such Atheists when the rituals are not related toreligion. e.g. President of India and Royal family of UK are simply show piece,despite of this they get tremendous honor and facilities.Secularism: Not to possess any ill-will on others religion aspeople can have different way of worshiping God and enjoying through itstraditions, which are not harming you.SecularHumanism: Vague term.Agnosticism: Doubting on the existence of God. But does not deny.Anti-theism: The person who is against the God and religion. 6) What doyou want to know about the above? What are your concerns about the above?I want to know nothing. Behumanists and take Glob as the family. That is all.7) What is the importance of Philosophy?History? Science?All are the tools to achieve moreand more knowledge on understanding physical and social universe including yourself,to see that you do not commit mistake repeatedly.8) What do you want to know aboutPhilosophy, History, and Science?Take the subject of yourinterest. Visit http://www.treenetram.wordpress.com9) Are you a feminist? Why or why not?A person becomes male or femaleis an incident. All are equal.10) Whatdo you want to know about feminism?Nothing.11) What would you like to know about us asfeminists?Why a person should beidentified like this? Can we not act without discrimination?12) If you are willing to tell us, what isyour gender (not sex, but gender) and sexuality? How do they affect your lives?Male and straight. Intercoursegives pleasure.13) What do you think affects a person’ssex or gender?The aptitude is depending uponthe chemistry of a person. It is need of a person to get pleasure throughintercourse. If a person is not satisfied by prevention, then the sexualthoughts will consume the time, which would affect the time to be used on otherissues. Mental efforts should be made to control it.14) What would you like to know aboutgender and sexuality?Nothing.15) What are your hobbies? What do youbelieve to be the importance of hobbies?To acquire knowledge where Ihave interest, and to spread it is my hobby. After all every act is forpleasure. 16) What would you like to know about ourhobbies?Nothing. I do not read Bible orQuran as no religion can say that it possesses eternal truth.Ido not believe in a God who has foe and friends, who can becomeangry and pleased upon some body, who can suggest a mandatory book tofollow, who has produced heaven and hell and who can forgive your sins. Irepeat, I do not believe in such God.Why?BecauseGod is not a politician who would frame rules but he himself would notfollow them and do miracles by himself or he would do miracles through hismessengers. Thephysical work and mental work are some of the factors of the result whichis going to be invariably faced by you under the relevance, significance andthe probability . God has set the rules and he struck tothem. From: hessianwithteeth To: smdave1940@yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, 20 November 2014 4:54 PM Subject: [New post] Quiz Time! #yiv0796793953 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv0796793953 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv0796793953 a.yiv0796793953primaryactionlink:link, #yiv0796793953 a.yiv0796793953primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv0796793953 a.yiv0796793953primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv0796793953 a.yiv0796793953primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv0796793953 WordPress.com | hessianwithteeth posted: “But don’t worry: I give an A for effort. Okay, actually there will be no grades because this is more about getting your opinion. This blog will be a year old in a month, and our semester is about to come to an end. As such, I think it’s about time to see ” | |

Wow. You don’t ask much. Lol. I’m not going to answer everyone of those questions in these comments. I am an architect with minors in philosophy, history, art, and English and I have lived around the world in many places and cultures … so I could write a dissertation on almost everything you asked. You don’t want that. Trust me.

I am a Christian because the definition of being a Christian is to believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God. I do not subscribe to organized religion on the grounds that it has little to do with being Christian or any other “religion”. As a matter of fact I don’t subscribe to religion at all. It is religious and by its very definition doomed to smother that which it professes to uplift.

I am not a feminist although I am female and a female architect in a very male architect world. Why, you might ask? Because I don’t make the distinction. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses that can be an asset or a liability depending on how they are used. I will treat you as you treat me. It’s pretty simple.

I am also not a feminist because my mother was. She did not believe that woman should stay home and take care of their children. She never saw that as a valid life decision. But being raised as one of those children makes me fight against this notion with every atom of my soul. Being a decent human being filled with compassion should never be a choice someone can disregard for a theory.

Humans are complex and fascinating because of it. The fact that you have asked all of these deep and probing questions about a person’s beliefs and yet ended with a question about “hobbies”, illustrates the point well. I love it.